In 1863, an unlikely duo created one of Italy’s most iconic drinks: MARTINI® vermouth. One a clever entrepreneur and one a master herbalist, Alessandro Martini and Luigi Rossi had no idea they were going to change the cocktail game when they took over the National Wine & Spirits Distillery in a small village near Turin. Their inimitable, eponymous brand MARTINI & ROSSI® is as rooted in Piedmont as the culture of aperitivo is, but their legacy extends to the far reaches of the globe; head south to Florence and you’ll see that their vermouth has taken on somewhat of a cult following courtesy of the Negroni, born here in the 1920s on the whim of one Count Camillo Negroni. Today, MARTINI® is the star player of the modern aperitivo, introducing Bianco and Fiero spritzes to the table. And, as we plunge into holiday season, a bottle of MARTINI® vermouth is the perfect gift, whether it’s for someone who loves to experiment with cocktails, who is always the hostess, or who just wants something easy to sip on the rocks after work. 

Turin and Florence are two of the best Italian cities to visit if you like to drink just as much as you like to eat–and here, we’re not just talking about wine. So we teamed up with MARTINI® and mixologist Maura Lawrence Milia, former bar manager of The Connaught Bar in London, to design the perfect four-day itinerary between the two cities for those of you who love a good tipple. A Sardinian native, the always-smiling Maura makes a mean drink and is a cocktail icon in her own right; she’s taken her talents to Mexico City, where she’s opening her second bar, Café Arixi, this year.

“This itinerary is all about connecting with the authenticity of Italy, living and breathing like a local, alongside one of the most iconic Italian brands that is MARTINI®,” Maura shares. “And Turin and Florence are the pinnacle windows into the true Italy.” As for the highlights, she points to Florence’s Cibreo Caffè–“one of those places that today or in 50 years will always be timeless”–and Turin’s Cafè Torino, “an ode to Italian hospitality, and home of the aperitivo and beautifully dressed people.” 

Here, how to spend four days drinking (take your pick from the ample MARTINI® offerings), eating, and living your way through these two iconic cities–shaken, not stirred.

Where to stay in Florence: Stella d’Italia, a boutique hotel from Florence local Matteo Perduca, is on the second floor of a 16th-century palazzo on the historically luxurious Via de’ Tornabuoni. Each of the 24 rooms and two suites are designed entirely differently, featuring personal touches from Matteo and his family, plus antique furnishings and over 400 art pieces–think vintage movie posters and collages of Florentine maps. Don’t miss out on a classic colazione in their breakfast room with wrap-around, 18th-century frescoes of the various country houses that were owned by the palace’s namesake aristocratic family. 

Where to stay in Turin: A quiet respite between Palazzo Reale and Porta Palazzo, the pink boutique hotel Casa Del Pignone boasts only six suites that combine the luxury of a hotel with the individuality of a home. Inside is rustic and simple, with wood ceilings and exposed brick walls. Don’t miss a Turin-style aperitivo in their gold-accented cocktail bar or a morning coffee in the ivy-covered courtyard.

DAY 1 

BREAKFAST

Right across from Stella d’Italia, Procacci has been a beloved spot since the eponymous Leonardo Procacci opened it in 1885. Sophisticated and gourmet, the cafè fits right in with the designer stores on Via de’ Tornabuoni, though it predates nearly all of them. Famed for its aperitivo, wine selection, and tiny truffle sandwiches, the cafè is an equally chic destination for a morning coffee with some chocolate biscottini or a cream and fruit tart. Their outdoor seating is especially lovely in the warmer months. 

LUNCH

Head to Sant’Ambrogio for lunch at Cibreo Caffè, a Florentine institution for over 30 years. At this cozy spot, you’ll enjoy your meal on red velvet, movie theater chairs at tiny round tables. Start with a MARTINI® Fiero Spritz–MARTINI® Fiero, MARTINI® Prosecco Rosè, Soda–followed by their NYT-approved tagliolini cacio e burro, an insanely creamy, can’t-miss primo. Then, order the braciola taglio bistecca–a boneless beef steak aged for 40 days–with any of their seasonal sides. The flourless chocolate cake and the cheesecake, with different toppings depending on the time of year, are some of our absolute favorite desserts in the city. 

AFTERNOON

Among the slew of Renaissance-focused gems here, Museo Marino Marini is an underrated must-visit for modern art. In the former church of San Pancrazio, the museum houses 183 works, arranged thematically, by renowned Tuscan artist and later professor Marino Marini (1901-1980). His modern sculptures, paintings, drawings, and engravings are inspired by Etruscan art and Arturo Martini’s classicism and modernism. It’s a wonderful contrast to Florence’s more classical sights. 

APERITIVO

After your museum tour, head just across the piazza to Manifattura, the first bar in not just Italy, but in Europe, to serve exclusively Italian spirits. Patrons of the hip spot often spill out into the street sipping on superlative versions of all the Italian classics. 

DINNER

Head to the reliable neighborhood spot Trattoria Sostanza for a casual, no-frills evening with traditional secondi, simple pastas, and house Chianti. The tiny, tiled space boasts big communal tables with just two seatings: 7:30 PM and 9 PM (DON’T be late). Their tortellini in brodo, pollo al burro (butter chicken), and tortino di carciofi are knockouts, along with their reasonably priced bistecca fiorentina. Be sure to finish with their fluffy meringue studded with chocolate chips, layered with thick cream, and finished with fresh red berries.

AFTER DINNER

Cap off the night on the rooftop terrace of Stella d’Italia, gazing out over the panoramic views of the city under the sparkling stars while sipping a MARTINI® Rosso on the rocks from their in-house bar.

DAY 2

MORNING & LUNCH

Book a farm-to-table lunch with local chef Michela at her restored farmhouse, Podere Sala, in the Chianti hills. You’ll get to live a coveted day in a local’s life fuori città, exploring the farmhouse, picking fresh produce from the orto, and participating in one of the most important Italian traditions: making, and sharing, a giant “sunday” lunch no matter what day of the week it is.

AFTERNOON

After your cooking class, head back to the hotel for an afternoon nap. Or, if you’d like a walk to digest, spend the afternoon strolling through the Boboli Gardens, located behind the Pitti Palace. A model for many European courts, these Italian-style gardens, once private to the Medici, stretch all the way back to Porta Romana and are peppered with Renaissance statues, fountains, and grottos. You can settle up for an afternoon nap under one of their large trees if you prefer speckled sunlight, lush grass, and a panorama of Florence to your feather bed. 

APERITIVO

Aperitivo includes a stop at the buchetta, wine window, of Osteria delle Belle Donne. No need to enter the restaurant: just knock on the little door to get a spritz or glass of wine to sip on the street while mingling with locals and tourists alike. Though they recently relaunched into TikTok fame, Florentine wine windows have actually been around since the 16th century, when savvy business owners sold wine (believed to be a form of medicine) with minimal contact to patrons during the bubonic plague. 

DINNER

For dinner, head to local favorite Alla Vecchia Bettola. This “old tavern” is as charming as can be, with communal tables, giant jugs of Chianti wine, and quite the bunch of personaggi staff and patrons. Even if you’ve managed to make a reservation–a challenging feat considering they don’t always answer their phone–you might still have to wait, which is the perfect excuse to sip a MARTINI® on the rocks. Once you’re seated, order their crostini, at least a few primi to share–our indisputable favorite pasta is the penne alla bettola, a riff on penne alla vodka–followed by rosticciana, pollo al tegame, roast beef, arista… you can’t go wrong. Be sure to save room for the torta di mela (apple tart) or raspberries with local Vivoli gelato.

AFTER DINNER

End the night with superb MARTINI® drinks at Locale, a fancy but unstuffy bar in the 13th-century Palazzo Concini. The vibe is moody and elegant, mixing antiques with green walls and modern touches, and the innovative and well-executed cocktails earned Locale a spot on 50 Best’s “The World’s 50 Best Bars” list in both 2022 and 2023. No reservations needed unless you’re a group bigger than 10. 

DAY 3

MORNING & LUNCH

Wave arrivederci to Florence and head to the train station. On the way, grab a green juice (it’s all about balance!) from Base V and a small schiacciata sandwich from Cantinetta di Verrazzano–our favorites are the tonda prosciutto or pomodoro mozzarella–for lunch on-the-go during your just over-three hour train ride. 

AFTERNOON 

Hop on a local train from the beautiful Torino Porta Nuova and head to Pessione to visit CASA MARTINI ®, about a 20 minute ride. This home-turned-museum is a must for MARTINI®, vermouth, or simply negroni sbagliato enthusiasts, for it’s where MARTINI & ROSSI® was born in 1863. The Museum of Enology delves into the evolution of winemaking through a collection of historic artifacts and exhibits, while the Mondo Martini gallery showcases some of the brand’s most iconic moments and a collection of their vintage marketing posters. 

APERITIVO

Of course you can enjoy MARTINI® at CASA MARTINI®. Here, it’s not called “aperitivo”, but “MARTINI® Time.” Book a tasting of their delicious vermouths or, to get a little hands on, participate in their mixology masterclasses, where you’ll get to learn how to make your very own vermouth (and gain some major bragging rights).

DINNER

Renowned for its natural wines list and produce selected by Slow Food, Consorzio is the best dinner spot for your first night. With a simple and elegant interior–it’s certainly quieter and more refined than last night’s dinner spot–Consorzio doesn’t shy away from reinventing Piedmontese cuisine, with creative twists on many of the classics. Try the knife beaten tartare and crispy egg on chard with Parmigiano Reggiano fondue to start, and follow it up with their Bergese style Risotto and the wine-braised local fassona beef. 

AFTER DINNER

After dinner, take a short walk to Piazza Carignano for Bar Cavour, part of the Michelin-starred Ristorante Del Cambio, which opened way back in 1757. The vibe is a mix between a speakeasy and a 5-star hotel lounge; take a seat on one of their black and cognac armchairs and order a MARTINI® del Cambio cocktail. For a more intimate experience, you can cozy up in the Sala Verde instead.

DAY 4

BREAKFAST

Start your day at Caffè Al Bicerin for the classic Torinese coffee: the bicerin, a layered drink of coffee, chocolate, and whipped cream. The ultra luxurious treat can be found at any cafe in the city, but it’s best at the eponymous spot across from the Santuario della Consolata in Piazza della Consolata, where they claim to have invented it. Inside, the cafe looks relatively the same as when it opened in 1763; grab a seat at the small marble tables on the long red velvet booth.

MORNING

Book a vintage car ride (write us at bespoke@italysegreta.com for the contact) to spend the day cruising through the city. Along the way, you’ll stop at stunning sights like the opulent 19th-century fountain, Fontana dei 12 Mesi, and the piazza of Il Monte dei Cappuccini, which offers one of the best views of the city. You’ll zoom past the iconic Gianni Agnelli estate all the way up to the breathtaking Basilica di Superga, perched 670 meters high overlooking the city and Alps. Hop out here to see the chapel’s stunning frescoes and the Savoy family’s mausoleum.

LUNCH

For lunch, hit the number one address for natural wine lovers, Magazzino 52, with over 1,000 labels, mainly from Piedmont, Tuscany, Bordeaux, Rhone, and Champagne. Their Piedmontese-inspired menu changes every week, and you can treat it as a build-your-own tasting menu, as dishes are priced out according to quantity ordered. Select two or three and follow it with the cheese board (we have your sweet tooth covered for later).

AFTERNOON

From Magazzino 52, walk one block over to the Po river for a stroll. Then, head back into the city and walk by the giant Palazzo Reale–the main residence of the Savoy family–and through the bustling Porta Palazzo, the largest outdoor market in Italy. Head down Via Roma for great window shopping and make your way to Piazza San Carlo, Turin’s main square, for a heavenly chocolate tasting at Stratta. Open since 1836, this pasticceria makes us feel like a little kid in a candy store, and reminds us that chocolate was invented (and perfected) in Piedmont. You can also order a coffee and something sweet from their pasticceria and sit outside. 

APERITIVO

Head right across the square to Caffè Torino–not hard to find, thanks to oversized banners hanging along the portico. Entering here is like a step back in time to 1903 when the place was founded–and frequented by King Victor Emmanuel III. The elegant, loungey spot is ideal to post up for an aperitivo with a classic Martini, either inside under beautiful ceilings or outside for perfect people watching in the always-bustling piazza. 

DINNER

For dinner, there’s no better choice for a classic Piemontese meal than Tre Galli, a 30-year-old landmark of the Quadrilatero. Inside, the dining room feels like a Parisian cafe, but their menu is rooted in the region. Choose a bottle (or two) from their 1,200+ label wine list and pair it with our favorite version of agnolotti al plin con sugo d’arrosto. Other standouts include the fresh ricotta with veggies and the crème brûlée. 

AFTER DINNER

As a true MARTINI lover, finish your evening at D. One Torino, a hip cocktail bar shaking up the scene in Italy’s first capital. In the up-and-coming San Salvario neighborhood, this vibey bar features a themed, oft-changing menu–recently it was “Around the World in 8 Cocktails”–but they still do all the classics exceptionally well. It’s the perfect place to end this itinerary, for their motto is: “Cocktails make you live happily ever after.”

MARTINI®, ITS TRADE DRESS, THE BALL & BAR LOGO AND MARTINI DARE TO BE ARE TRADEMARKS.